Threat to Lookout Mountain's Hemlocks at Critical Level

You may have seen the signs to “Save Our Hemlocks.” If that’s going to happen the time to act is now, warn officials.

“Because of the mild winter, the wooly adelgid infestation has exploded like we’ve never seen it before,” says Jimmy Stewart, a landscape professional of 45 years and volunteer for Save Georgia’s Hemlocks. “We can’t ignore it now.”

Because of the mild winter, the wooly adelgid infestation has exploded like we’ve never seen it before. We can’t ignore it now.

The hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) is an invasive insect from Asia that has been sweeping across the Southeast, largely unchecked due to no natural predators. It first entered the United States about 30 years ago, but didn’t reach Lookout Mountain until two years ago when it was first noticed on East Brow Road. Since then it has spread fairly quickly across the mountain.

We have to treat this spring and we have to be aggressive or our hemlocks will be dead within two years,” says Stewart. “People don’t realize what a large role these trees play in our landscapes, both for practical and aesthetic reasons.

Hemlocks are a keystone species for our area, providing food and habitat for about 120 species of vertebrates and more than 90 species of birds, according to Save Georgia’s Hemlocks. They also provide shade for native plants as well as people.

The bad news is that the threat is at a critical level. The good news is that we have the right products and techniques to protect trees from the infestation. If you have hemlocks on your property, you can either hire a licensed contractor to implement a treatment plan or do it yourself.

Treatments last 2 to 5 years and are very economical, according to Stewart. If you’d like to learn more he is hosting two FREE classes in April:

School Appreciation Lunches this Past Wednesday

One of the biggest benefits of living on Lookout Mountain is having access to not one, but two award-winning elementary schools. In appreciation for the teachers and staff that make our schools great, Love Lookout decided to treat them to lunch this Wednesday, March 15.

A generous BBQ spread was delivered to Fairyland Elementary, Lookout Mountain School, and the town halls of both GA and TN. Love Lookout committee member Melanie Reynolds organized the lunches, which included home-cooked barbecue chicken, pork and sausage with sides from the Purple Daisy Picnic Café.

“Our teachers, school staff and city employees do so much for our community,” says Reynolds. “We wanted to do something to show how much we appreciate their hard work.”

Shamrock City Returns this Weekend

Transport yourself to Ireland for FREE this weekend at Rock City. You may not actually cross the pond but the 10th Annual Shamrock City is a close second with Celtic music, Irish food and other St. Patrick’s shenanigans. (Remember locals get in free with resident passes).

Everything is turning green for the celebration, from the waterfall to the fudge. You can also take a jig lesson, hear live music from bands such as The Molly Maguires or scale the Blarney Stone Climbing Wall.

Dublin your fun at the Suffolk Sheep Encounter, compliments of Bagby’s Critter Coral (10 am until 3 pm daily). New this year is a caricature artist and panning for gold. As with all of Rock City’s special events, kids can get a passport that includes activities, coupons and a place for collecting stamps throughout the park.

Delicious Irish bites include mulligan stew, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, green kettle corn and limeade – available at different food locations throughout Rock City. Afterward, stop by Starbucks and ask for colored Matcha powder to add to a variety of fun frappuccinos!

Shamrock City is once again partnering with the Chattanooga district of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Guests can purchase green shamrocks for $1 and gold shamrocks for $5 now through March 23 to help supply needed funds to local families with MD.

Make sure to ask for Chattanooga’s spring break safari guide at the ticket desk available March 10 – April 9. Enjoy a RockQuest Adventure and scavenger hunt at Rock City!

Mountain Bike Rentals Now Available at Cloudland Canyon State Park

If you’ve ever considered mountain biking but haven’t taken the plunge…you just ran out of excuses. Cloudland Canyon State Park now offers mountain bike rentals. The Marin Bobcat Trail bikes cost $35 for half-day rentals and $55 for all day. Payments are made at the park visitor center, and mountain bikes can be picked up at the park’s interpretative center.

The 5-Points Recreation Area and it’s approximately 20 miles of rollercoaster single-track has been a mountain biking mecca since it opened in 2011. But the trails connected to it also draw regional riders for the chance to bike from Cloudland Canyon State Park to Lula Lake Land Trust.

This January, construction began for the Chattanooga Connector Trail – an almost 3-mile “missing link” between Covenant College and Lula Lake Land Trust. Once complete, riders can go from Chickamauga Dam downtown all the way to Cloudland Canyon.

You can take the new rentals on the 14-mile Cloudland Connector Trail to the Five Points Recreation Area. Experience singletrack trails ranging in difficulty from moderate to strenuous, featuring contour line trails, loops and challenging jumps.

Cloudland Canyon State Park also offers a Mountain Bike Hike every Tuesday and Sunday from March through November, where you can rent bikes (or bring your own) and explore the trails led by an interpretive ranger. While you’re at it, consider joining Georgia’s Muddy Spokes Club and tackle 68 miles of trails in 11 Georgia state parks.

Stay the night or spend the weekend in Cloudland Canyon State Park. Options range from fully-equipped and comfortable cottages to quirky yurts. There are also several camping and backpacking options, including backcountry campsites or RV camping.

GETTING THERE:From Cloudland Canyon State Park, you can access the Cloudland Connector Trail from the southeast corner of the park at the Backcountry trailhead, in the same location as the disc golf course. This section of the park has a parking lot, picnic area and bathrooms.

The New Lookout Mountain Village

If you’ve driven past the Lookout Mountain shops you may have noticed a new addition out front. The row of shops, restaurant and businesses is now branded as Lookout Mountain Village, made official by a black and white sign hanging from the center lamp post.

Branding and signage has been a long-time goal for Lookout Mountain’s business owners. They hope in particular it might attract tourists from Rock City and Ruby Falls, which often never find their way to the Mountain’s business district.

The project was spearheaded by Vanessa Cullars, who has worked at Yessick’s since it opened and at Twig’s gift shop before that. She approached Town Hall about naming the business area and beautifying the sidewalk with flowers.

“I’m excited to see the sign finally go up and hope that we can move forward with plantings this spring,” she says. “I think it will energize the area and hopefully get people excited about exploring an area of the mountain they may normally not see.”

Night Out for Lookout Preview Party Tonight

Ladies, it’s your night. A first-ever Ladies of Lookout preview party for Night Out for Lookout is being held tonight at the Kern’s home from 6:00 until 9:00 pm. The “Sip, Stock and See” party will include many of the auction’s art, jewelry and health/beauty auction items.

You’ll be able to pre-bid or even purchase some items, with all proceeds benefiting Lookout Mountain School. Please note this is a cash or check only event.

Your “ticket” is one bottle of wine (valued at $15 or more), which will go toward the Wine Cellar to be raffled off at the actual event on February 24. Appetizers and wine will be served, and Mountain Escape Spa will be on hand for chair massages and mini manicures.

Whether you’re looking for a fabulous new piece of art or a relaxing beach getaway, Night Out for Lookout has it (and more). The annual fundraiser for Lookout Mountain School is coming February 24 to the Fairyland Club ballroom.

The auction website allows you to purchase tickets, register as a bidder, make donations, pre-bid and even purchase some items before the event. All items will be available for preview February 18.

Some highlights include a week’s stay in Amelia Island, Tennessee Titan tickets, box seats for Chattanooga Lookouts game, Louisa Guild jewelry, a helicopter ride with Rock Creek Aviation, and art from local artists such as Christie Davenport, Allison Elkins, Jan Robinson, Aloyse Brown and Hope Hessler Bailey (just to name a few).

Proceeds from the evening support the capstones of an LMS education, such as low teacher/student ratios, a robust related arts program, daily PE, weekly art and music instruction, a full-time librarian and an innovative science lab.

The auction committee is continually honored and humbled by the way our entire community comes out to support this event year after year – and our school as a whole,” says Maggie Estes, who is co-chairing this year’s event with Lesslie Meier and Whitney Garvich.

This year also brings a paddle bid for an exciting special project – a new playground. While the current playground has served the school well for 20 years, it’s nearing its life expectancy. The area is integral in providing outdoor fitness opportunities, particularly through LMS’ daily PE (another benefit made possible through fundraisers like NOFL).

Another exciting addition is a Ladies of Lookout preview party on February 16 where women can “sip, stock and see” select art, jewelry and spa auction items. Items will be available for pre-bid and some even for purchase.

Held at Christine and Lee Kern’s home from 6 to 9 pm, women can enjoy appetizers, wine and mini manicures and chair massages provided by Mountain Escape Spa. The “ticket” is a bottle of wine which will go toward the Wine Cellar that will be raffled off at NOFL. (RSVP here to attend)

Free Concert Tonight Featuring Nationally Renowned Dulcimer Players

Reserve your spot TONIGHT for a free concert from three top dulcimer players, Dan Landrum, Aaron O’Rourke and Stephen Humphries.

The trio will be performing at Covenant College’s Dora Maclellan Brown Memorial Chapel as part of the John Hamm Performing Arts Series.

Humphries – an adjunct music professor at Covenant – is a national hammered dulcimer champion who has released five recordings featuring the instrument, including one of original music with Landrum. In addition to teaching at Covenant and Silverdale Baptist Academy, he performs at festivals across the US.

Based on Signal Mountain, Landrum plays and teaches hammered dulcimer and publishes the quarterly Dulcimer Players News magazine. Discovered busking in front of the Tennessee Aquarium, his talents have taken him on tour with Yanni, as well as Olympic ceremonies and presidential inaugurations.

O’Rourke has been teaching and performing on mountain dulcimer since he was 16 years old, winning the 2010 National Mountain Dulcimer Competition at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. He also teaches and performs across the country.

Tonight’s performance will highlight the versatility these little-known folk instruments. A mountain dulcimer, which originated in Appalachia in the early 19th century, is a fretted string instrument resembling a long, narrow guitar.

The hammered dulcimer is a trapezoid-shaped sounding board with strings stretched across it, which players strike with small sticks or “hammers.” Its origins date back to antiquity, extensively used during the Middle Ages throughout Europe.

The goal of the series, named after long-time Covenant music professor Dr. John Hamm, is to bring world-renowned musicians to Lookout Mountain. The final date in this year’s series will be Tuesday, February 21, featuring guitarists Petar Jankovic and Daniel Duarte.

As always, the festivities will be at the Fairyland Club ballroom starting at 6:30. It’s open to ages 4 and up and will include music from DJ Scuba Steve, buffet dining, photo booth and ice cream bar. Tickets are $110 for each father/daughter couple ($20 for each additional child).

Spaces are limited and filling up fast. Contact Brady Garvich at brady.garvich@surgicor.com to reserve your space via check or PayPal.

Girl Scout Cookies are Coming to Town

Resolutions are made to be broken….it’s Girl Scout Cookie time! From now until mid-March you can get your Thin Mint fix when you order or buy directly from one of Lookout Mountain’s two Girl Scout troops.

Lookout Mountain, GA Troop 40010 was formed last year by troop leader Emily Wade. Tennessee’s Troop 40424 was formed last fall with Alison Roedder and Melissa Youngblood as co-leaders. To place your cookie order, you may contact the parents of a Girl Scout (listed below) or email emily.wade1981@gmail.com or mhyoungblood@gmail.com.

Another option is to buy directly from the Scouts at one of two booth sales happening in March. On the Georgia side, girls will be in front of Georgia City Hall. The Tennessee troop will be outside Market on the Mountain. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for exact dates and times.

As if cookies weren’t exciting enough, there’s a new flavor this year: Girl Scout S’mores. In honor of their 100th anniversary, the “Brownie Bakers” have combined two iconic Girl Scout traditions – s’mores and cookies!

Girl Scouts have also updated their classics to make them more aligned with today’s cookie connoisseurs. While they taste the same, several selections contain no artificial flavors or colors, Thin Mints are now vegan, and Toffee-Tastics are gluten free.

And if you still can’t eat them, treat them! The Girls Scouts have a unique program, Operation Appreciation that allows you to still support your local Girl Scout troop while gifting the actual cookies to the US troops.